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IMMACULATE CONCEPTION UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC

CHURCH

ПАРАФІЯ НЕПОРОЧНОГО ЗАЧАТТЯ ПРЕЧИСТОЇ

ДІВИ МАРІЇ 745 SOUTH BENTON STREET

PALATINE, ILLINOIS 60067-7116 ПАРОХ - FR. MYKHAILO KUZMA – PASTOR

(847) 991-0820 e-mail: frmykhailo@att.net web page: icshrine.org СОТРУДНИК – FR. YAROSLAV MENDYUK – ASSOCIATE PASTOR

(224) 801-1907 е-mail: ymendyuk@gmail.com

НЕДІЛЯ ВСІХ СВЯТИХ 7 ЧЕРВНЯ, 2020

ЗВЕРНЕННЯ БЛАЖЕННІШОГО СВЯТОСЛАВА «МАЙБУТНЄ НАШОЇ ЦЕРКВИ, УКРАЇНИ І НАРОДУ ЗАЛЕЖИТЬ ВІД ОСВІТИ

ТА ВИХОВАННЯ НАШИХ ДІТЕЙ» Вівторок, 02 червня 2020, 09:01

Звертаємося до вас у зв’язку з тим, що згідно з наказом №641 Міністерства освіти та науки України від 18 травня 2020 року, вносяться зміни до

попередніх наказів міністерства – вилучаються відповідальні за світоглядні дисципліни комісії, зокрема: Комісія з філософсько-світоглядних дисциплін,

Комісія з етики та Комісія з християнської етики.

Дорогі батьки, вихователі та всі люди доброї волі, що займаєтеся вихованням дітей!

Звертаємося до вас у зв’язку з тим, що згідно з наказом №641 Міністерства освіти

та науки України від 18 травня 2020 року, вносяться зміни до попередніх наказів

міністерства – вилучаються відповідальні за світоглядні дисципліни комісії, зокрема:

Комісія з філософсько-світоглядних дисциплін, Комісія з етики та Комісія з

християнської етики. Ми глибоко стурбовані, що ці зміни можуть завдати шкоди

якості та розвитку предметів світоглядного характеру в межах навчальних програм

різних рівнів і, внаслідок цього, зведуть нанівець зусилля, спрямовані на цілісний

розвиток дітей і молоді.

Упродовж уже майже тридцяти років предмети духовно-морального спрямування

вивчаються в середніх і вищих закладах освіти України як обов’язковий предмет або

як предмет за вибором. Їх впровадження в навчальні програми було вимогою

українського суспільства після здобуття Незалежності України та відходу від

комуністично-атеїстичного світогляду в напрямку демократичних цінностей, щоб

гідність і права людини не лише декларувалися, а й реалізувалися. Розвиток якості

викладання цих предметів – результат багаторічних зусиль громадян України –

батьків, вчителів, педагогічних колективів, релігійних і громадських організацій,

Церков. (закінчення на ст. 4)

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SUNDAY OF ALL SAINTS JUNE 6, 2020

ПОРЯДОК БОГОСЛЖЕНЬ (8го до 14го червня, 2020) ОRDER OF SERVICES (June 8th to 14th, 2020)

Понеділок – Mon. 8 8:00 A.M. +Slawko, Dana, Adrian – Luba Lukomskyj Вівторок – Тues. 9 8:00 A.M. Oliver Andres (B-day) - family

+Rev. Antin, Antonia, Lewko, Bohdan, Vera – Luba Lukomskyj

+Pavlina Zazuliak (P) – Anna Guralchuk

Середа – Wed. 10 7:00 P.M. Diosdado & Amada Четвер – Thurs. 11 8:00 A.M. +Rev. Theodore Wroblicky (1st anniv. P)

+Yevhen (P) П’ятниця – Fri. 12 8:00 A.M. Special Intention

7:00 P.M. МОЛЕБЕНЬ – MOLEBEN TO OUR LORD Субота – Sat. 13 9:00 P.M. For peace in this unpeaceful world

Special Intention Неділя – Sunday 14 8:30 A.M. +Vera Iwanycky (7th anniv.) – Luba Lukomskyj

10:00 A.M. Special Intention

11:30 A.M. for our parishioners

ВАШ ДАР БОГОВІ ТА ПАРАФІЇ – YOUR GIFT TO GOD & PARISH Неділя 31го травня / Sunday, May 31st (mail & website)- $2,455.00

Будівельний Фонд / Building Fund (mail & GoFundMe) – $5,130.00

ПРОСИМО МОЛИТИСЯ ЗА: о.Френка Аванта, o.Леонарда Корчинського,

o.Mихайла Кузьму, о. Тому Добровольского, о. Андрія Чировського, о. Романа

Лаголу, Tима Гайдера, Дебi Плiшки, Ольгу Ширмир, Мардж Матвіїв, Любу Чорну, Євгена Павліша, Богдана Юринця, Світлану Санагурську, Любу Лукомську, Андрею

Андрес, Євгенію Яхнів, Жоану Сокальську, Лярису Дас, Джекі Мишкіевич, Христину Рудавську, Анну Назар, Келвин Мекмен, Стефана Сторкел, Наталію Лісову, Михайла

Саливина і за всіх недужих.

PLEASE PRAY FOR: Fr. Frank Avant, Fr. Leonard Korchinski, Fr. Mykhailo Kuzma,

Fr. Tom Dobrowolsky, Fr. Andriy Chirovsky, Fr. Roman Lahola, Fr. Bohdan, Tim Heider,

Debbie Plishka, Olha Schirmer, Marge Matviuw, Luba Chorny, Eugene Pawlisz, Bohdan Yurinets, Svitlana Sanahurska, Luba Lukomskyj, Andrea Andres, Betty Jachniw, Laryssa

Das, Jackie Myshkiewicz, Christine Rudawski, Anna Nazar, Calvin McMahon, Steven Stor-kel, Nataliya Lisova, Michael Sullivan аnd all those in need of our prayers.

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(закінчення з ст. 2)

Предмети світоглядного характеру, як-от «Основи християнської етики»,

«Християнська етика в українській культурі», «Основи сім’ї», є відповіддю на

виховні виклики, які стоять сьогодні перед українським суспільством. У системі

освіти України вони, спираючись на християнські основи української ментальності,

сприяють формуванню світогляду, ціннісних орієнтирів та моральної позиції дітей і

молоді. Ці предмети мають міжконфесійний характер і спрямовані на формування

загальнолюдських, соціально важливих, патріотичних переконань і навичок.

Задля покращення якості викладання предметів духовно-морального спрямування

фахівці розробили програми та методичне забезпечення, які отримали затвердження

Міністерства освіти та науки України. Розгляд і затвердження програм, підручників,

методичних посібників, олімпіад та конкурсів здійснювали комісії при МОН України,

які, властиво, і було нещодавно ліквідовано «з метою оптимізації». Постає

запитання: які підрозділи Міністерства освіти і науки відповідатимуть за якість і

розвиток цих предметів надалі?

Слід зазначити, що батьки мають право і обов’язок впливати на зміст навчальних

програм, згідно з якими навчаються їхні діти. Неодноразово не тільки вони [батьки],

а й релігійні та громадські організації висловлювали свої побажання і вимоги, щоб

навчальні загальноосвітні програми включали предмети духовно-морального

спрямування. Діти і молодь мають право пізнавати Бога і моральні цінності та

добровільно, з переконання їх приймати. Ісус Христос звертається до нас: «Пустіть

дітей! Не бороніть їм приходити до мене, бо таких Царство Небесне» (Мт. 19, 14).

Сьогодні ми переживаємо часи тривоги, непевності, змін не лише через пандемію

Covid 19. Це пов’язано й з іншими чинниками: війною, економічними, політичними та

духовно-моральними викликами, які постають перед нашим суспільством. Водночас

бачимо, що нівелюються шляхи плекання культурних і світоглядних цінностей, які

були сформовані тисячолітньою християнською традицією, що є основою української

ідентичності. Натомість впроваджуються нищівні ідеології та програми, які є чужими

для нашої культури, суперечать християнській моралі та обмежують гідність і

свободу людини.

Гідність людини є основою її права на цілісне виховання: духовне, моральне,

інтелектуальне, фізичне і суспільне. Шануючи гідність кожної особи, поважаємо її

свободу і відповідальність, щоб вона, докладаючи зусиль і перемагаючи труднощі,

правильно укладала своє життя. Цілісна особистість не лише відтворює знання, а й

уміє самостійно критично мислити, уміє бути свобідною і відповідати за свої вчинки.

Вільна людина, яка має почуття гідності, не вагається брати на себе

відповідальність, живе порядно, відзначається патріотизмом. Так вихована особа

вміє використовувати на добро все, що здобула під час навчання і виховання. Через

цілісне виховання розкриються її можливості у стремлінні до остаточної мети її

життя, на благо іншим людям, нашій Державі та Богові.

Питання освіти і виховання – це питання безпеки і розвитку України. Нашою

відповідальністю перед Богом і народом є ретельно й постійно дбати про зміст і

якість навчання та виховання дітей і молоді. Суттєвим є, щоб освітній зміст

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передавався не всупереч християнському світогляду, а базувався на нашій

тисячолітній християнській традиції та культурі.

Звертаюся до синів і дочок нашої Церкви, а також до всіх людей доброї волі!

Прохаю вас, будьте щедрими у виховній та освітній ділянці життя і праці!

Благословення Господнє на вас!

† СВЯТОСЛАВ

"Suffering overwhelms you because you take it like a coward. Meet it bravely, with a Christian spirit: and you will regard it as a treasure."

— St. Josemaria Escriva

GOD WITH US ONLINE PRESENTS:

THE THIRD HEAVEN The Key to the Epistles of Saint Paul

LIVE WEBINAR Wednesdays, June 3, 10 & 17 8:00 - 9:00 p.m. ET

Presented by Rev. Sebastian Carnazzo

In this Bible study we’ll explore what the scriptures tell us about the life of the thirteenth Apostle and the impact of his conversion on the Church, and learn how to read Saint Paul’s epistles in the context of his life to understand them and his ministry to the Church more fully.

REGISTER AT: EASTERNCATHOLIC.ORG

ОГОЛОШЕННЯ 1. Недільні св. Літургії відкриті для усіх вірних. Старші віком, недужі можуть

приймати участь у всіх наших відправах on-line.

2. Якщо хто відчуває потребу отримати Святі Тайни Сповіди і Св. Причастя, прошу

зголосіться до о. Михайло або до о. Ярослава.

3. Віртуальний Фестин “Червона Рута” в суботу і неділю 13го і 14го червня. В суботу можна закупити варенники і шишлики від 4ої до 7ої через “drive through”.

4. Просимо не забувати складати ваші пожертви на церкву та на будівельний фонд нового

храму. Просимо це робити через платформу GoFundMe на нашій сторінці у Facebook, через нашу інтернет сторінку: icshrine.org, чи просто вкидати конверт з чеком в поштову скриньку зправа від вхідних дверей до будинку СУМу, при цьому не забудьте вказати на

конверті ваше прізвище і що це пожертва на церкву.

ANNOUNCEMENT

1. Sunday services are now open to our parishioners and friends at SUM again.

Liturgies are scheduled at the regular times. If you are elderly, sick or have a serious reason not to attend please join us on-line. All services are live streamed.

2. If you have a need for the sacraments of Confession and Holy Communion please notify Fr. Mykhailo or Fr. Yaroslav. If you have personal intentions please contact the parish office

3. The “Chervona Ruta” festival will be held virtually on Saturday and Sunday, June 13th and

14th. On Saturday varennyky (pyrohy) and shyshlyky (kabobs) are on sale from 4PM to 7PM via drive through service.

4. We thank you for your financial support and appeal to all to continue supporting our parish

operating fund and our parish Building Fund. You can send your donations to the parish or to

the GoFundMe option on our parish Facebook or website (icshrine.org).

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HOW DIVISION IS A PRIMARY TACTIC OF THE DEVIL

Even the word “devil” can be translated as “to divide.”

The devil loves chaos. Ever since his fall from Heaven Satan seeks to divide the world. His first action was to divide the angels, which was followed-up by tempting Adam and Eve in the garden, driving a wedge between the first humans and God. Division is the devil’s playground and it shouldn’t be surprising. The word “devil,” comes from the Greek word diabolos, which can be translated as, “to divide,” “to separate,” or more literally, “to throw against.” Pope Francis has spoken much about this tactic of the devil, speaking directly about it in an address to participants in a seminar for bishops in mission territories. Divisions are a handy weapon that the devil uses to destroy the Church from within. He has two weapons, but the main one is division … Please, fight against division, because it is one of the weapons that the devil uses to destroy the local Church and the universal Church. In particular the differences, owing to the various ethnic groups pre-sent in the same territory, must not penetrate the Christian communities to the point of pre-vailing over their good. There are challenges that are difficult to resolve, but with the grace of God, prayer and penance, it can be done. The Church is called to rise above tribal-cultural connotations, and the Bishop, a visible principle of unity, has the task of unceasingly build-ing up the particular Church in the communion of all her members. Whenever we see division occur in the world, especially division that pits one group in society against another, we can affirm that the devil is in some way behind it. He wants us to destroy ourselves and hatred against other people is one of the fastest ways we become the authors of our own demise. Jesus, on the other hand, desires unity. I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one. (John 17:20-22) The Holy Trinity is the prime example of unity and communion, something we will ul-timately participate in if we reach Heaven someday. Heaven will essentially be “commun-ion,” where we are unified not only with God, but with each other. Above all, we need to strive for unity in truth, coming together to fight against injus-tices with charity. If we can stay united together under the leadership of Jesus Christ, we are able to thwart the plans of the devil.

OUR LADY OF MEDJUGORJE, QUEEN OF PEACE “Medjugorje is the spiritual center of the world”

(St. Pope John Paul II)

Dear Family of Mary!

Today I feel we should listen to Our Lady as she calls us to pray

for peace. She has called us consistently throughout her time with us in Medjugorje to pray for peace. Have we really under-

stood her call? Have we responded to her call? Is there still time?

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Mother, we want to listen again to your words about peace. May we open our hearts to

your call:

December 25, 1990 "Dear children! Today I invite you in a special way to pray

for peace. Dear children, without peace you cannot experience the birth of the little Jesus neither today nor in your daily lives. Therefore, pray the Lord of

Peace that He may protect you with His mantle and that He may help you to

comprehend the greatness and the importance of peace in your heart. In this way you shall be able to spread peace from your heart throughout the whole

world. I am with you and I intercede for you before God. Pray, because satan wants to destroy my plans of peace. Be reconciled with one another and by

means of your lives help peace reign in the whole earth. Thank you for having responded to my call."

July 25, 1991 "Dear Children! Today I invite you to pray for peace. At this time peace is being threatened in a special way, and I am seeking from you to re-

new fasting and prayer in your families. Dear children, I desire you to grasp the seriousness of the situation and that much of what will happen depends

on your prayers and you are praying a little bit. Dear children, I am with you and I am inviting you to begin to pray and fast seriously as in the first days of

my coming. Thank you for having responded to my call."

March 25, 1993 "Dear children! Today like never I call you to pray for peace, for

peace in your hearts, peace in your families and peace in the whole world, be-

cause satan wants war, wants lack of peace, wants to destroy all which is good. Therefore, dear children, pray, pray, pray. Thank you for having re-

sponded to my call."

September 25, 2002 "Dear children! Also in this peaceless time, I call you to

prayer. Little children, pray for peace so that in the world every person would feel love towards peace. Only when the soul finds peace in God, it feels con-

tent and love will begin to flow in the world. And in a special way, little chil-dren, you are called to live and witness peace - peace in your hearts and fami-

lies - and, through you, peace will also begin to flow in the world. Thank you for having responded to my call."

April 25, 2009 "Dear children! Today I call you all to pray for peace and to wit-ness it in your families so that peace may become the highest treasure on this

peaceless earth. I am your Queen of Peace and your mother. I desire to lead you on the way of peace, which comes only from God. Therefore, pray, pray,

pray. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Thank you, dearest Mother, for your messages of peace. Help us to respond anew to

your call. We pray for the whole world to be given peace, the peace that only God can give. May it be so.

In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!

Cathy Nolan ©Mary TV 2020

ПРИГАДУЄМО УСІМ ПАРАФІЯНАМ

Щоб гідно принимати Святі Тайни парафіянин повинен жити за правилами віри та

серйозно підготувитися. Добрі (віддані) парафіяни є ті котрі:

1. В неділі й свята беруть участь в Святій Літургії

2. Жертвують час, таланти і матеріaльно підтримують парафію

3. Записані до парафії

4. Знають загальні правди й молитви нашої віри

A REMINDER TO ALL PARISHIONERS Reception of the Sacraments requires the committed practice of the faith and serious

preparation. Committed parishioners are those who:

1. Attend Divine Liturgy on Sunday’s and Feast Days

2. Give of their time, talents and financial resources

3. Have enrolled in the parish

4. Кnow and understand the basic prayer and tenets of our faith

Remember Our Parish in Your Will You can leave a lasting legacy to benefit future generations! Please remember our Immaculate Conception Ukrаinian Catholic Parish when creating your will. Your good works will continue after you have gone! Please contact the office for information.

Згадайте нашу парафію у Вашому заповіті Ви можете залишити частину своєї спадчини на благо майбутних поколінь! Ласкавo, памятайте, парафію Непорочного Зачаття Пречистої Діви Марії при створеню Вашого заповіту. Ваші добрі діла будуть продовжуватися після Вашого повернення Додому, до вічного життя!

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Saint Philomena And Our Times By Brian K. Kravec I have a dear friend and heavenly patroness in St. Philomena. I wear the red and white wrist cord of St. Philomena which symbolizes her virginity and martyrdom. My cord, a gift of love from a fellow devotee, was touched to the first class relics of St. Philomena’s bone and the blood of St. John Vianney, who fostered public devotion to St. Philomena with great enthusiasm. Though my personal devotion to the Wonder-Worker is quite new, I’ve wasted no time in presenting my petitions to her and she has wasted no time in affirming her patronage. It is widely known that whenever St. Philomena is working on your behalf, she would announce it by knocking three times. I knew nothing of this very special communication until after I was discussing three very distinct knocks that awakened me in the middle of the night just weeks ago. At that time, the world was nearly 40 days into the present Covid-19 pandemic.

It would be reasonable to dismiss the three knocks as a dream or even wishful thinking if I had prior knowledge of this playful saintly custom. The fact that I learned about the three knocks af-terward and that they were followed by a very clear dream lead-ing me to a message from St. Philomena for our times is some-thing to be considered. In a dream following the three knocks, I could vividly see books of varied colors that were numbered. When my eyes opened the fol-lowing morning, it immediately occurred to me that I had seen The Volumes as published by Direction for Our Times. The Volumes contain private revelation given to the world through Kathryn Ann Clarke, also known as Anne, a lay apostle. Rev. Leo O’Reilly, Bishop of the Diocese of Kilmore, Ireland, has granted

Anne’s writings an imprimatur. The Volumes are in my home library and I hadn’t thought about them or read them in more than a decade. Shortly after the dream, I was discussing the wonders of St. Philomena with the same friend who gifted me with her cord and told me about the three knocks. She shared a video which she credits as her introduction to St. Philomena in which Dr. Mark Miravalle inter-views Anne the lay apostle in December, 2008. Again, it was after seeing the video that I shared the details of my recent dream with my dear friend. Only then would I return to Volume 7 (page 11-14) and read St. Philomena’s message to me and the world as given July 8, 2004 which I believe the little saint wishes to be circulated anew: Dear brothers and sisters, you must be joyful during this time. Whenever you are tempt-ed toward despair, you must think of heaven and how Jesus is making the earth like heaven by allowing this cleansing. Jesus is reclaiming the earth. That is a wonderful thing and will ensure that your children’s children will not have to contend with the darkness of sin that surrounds your children. It would please Jesus if you would be thankful to Him, despite any circumstances.

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A saint conducts herself this way and finds that she is joyful regardless of any and all hardships. Dear friends of heaven, the enemy will not prevail. You know this because you have been told this. At the end of this time, Jesus will return and the earth will be beau-tiful again. Before that, there will be a time when it will appear that the enemy has taken control of the world. The darkness of sin will reign and our beloved Church will suffer even more. Followers will face grave and constant attacks for their faith in many areas of the world. They will persevere and set the most beautiful example for others. This will draw others back to the faith in great numbers, so you see, the enemy’s strategy will backfire. The more God’s enemies persecute His children, the more children will choose God and remain true. It has always been this way, sadly. God’s children should serve Him faithfully in good times also, but many do not. Many become worldly when the times are easy. Be brave. Your courage will come from heaven and inspire many. We teach you how to prepare and those who take our advice will find that they are calm and able to lead. Heaven will call upon many to lead because during the worst of the troubles, holy souls will be cut off from each other. Leaders will spring up in every area to help holy souls to remain steadfast. How beautiful are these times when viewed from our perspective. My dear friends, read about our lives. Many saints in heaven faced the greatest of persecutions on earth. We nev-er relied upon ourselves and in that way we became invincible. You will too. The earth will quake during this time and heaven’s responses will be apparent to all, giving the faithful great hope. The enemy’s actions will be met with heavenly retribution. This also will convince many that God is preparing to return and will also bring many back to God. So you see, the enemy cannot win and God will turn everything to the good. It is important that you are aware of the coming events so you will be confident and prepared. My friends, your world is asleep at this time and many doubt God’s presence in the world. I would advise you all to remain alert. You will be glad that you did. St. Philomena, pray for us!

M Y S T I C S O F T H E C H U R C H

T H I S W E B S I T E I S D E V O T E D T O T H E E X T R A O R D I N A R Y M Y S T I C S A N D V I S I O N A R I E S O F T H E C H U R C H , E S P E C I A L L Y T H O S E W H O A R E

L E S S E R K N O W N , S U C H A S S T G E M M A G A L G A N I , B L E S S E D A L E X -A N D R I N A D A C O S T A , S R C O N S O L A T A B E T R O N E , T H E R E S E N E U -

M A N N , R E V . P E R E L A M Y , G A B R I E L L E B O S S I S , J O S E F A M E N E N D E Z , M A R T H E R O B I N , S E R V A N T O F G O D L O U I S E L A T E A U , B L E S S E D A N -

N A M A R I A T A I G I , S I S T E R M A R Y O F T H E H O L Y T R I N I T Y , S I S T E R

M A R I A A N T O N I A A N D O T H E R S . T H E A U T H O R E N D E A V O R S A L W A Y S T O B E I N C O M M U N I O N W I T H T H E C A T H O L I C C H U R C H A N D I T S

T E A C H I N G S .

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Antonietta De Vitis, a recent Italian mystic who lived solely off the Eucharist

Antonietta De Vitis (1936-2004)

Antonietta De Vitis (1936-2004) -A modern Mystic and Stigmatic who reported-ly lived without food and water for 53 years

The Catholic diocese of Otranto, Italy is currently examining the virtues of Antonietta De

Vitis, a mystic from Nociglia, Italy who reportedly had the stigmata. Numerous extraordi-nary cures have been attributed to her, and some have recently been reported in Italian

newspapers, two of which we will highlight in more detail below.

Antionetta De Vitis was a quiet woman who lived a very hidden life, however her heroic virtues and remarkable mystical life is becoming more and more known since her holy

death in 2004.

Antionetta was a Franciscan tertiary (Third Order Franciscan) who was a devotee of Fat-

ima, Saint Francis, Saint Clelia Barbieri, and the Italian mystics Saint Padre Pio and Maria Valtorta, who were her contemporaries.

In 1950 Antonietta completely stopped drinking and eating--an extraordinary circum-

stance documented by physicians that continued for 53 years until her holy death. She was bedridden, and her life was spent entirely in one bedroom in a humble house. Hers

was a life of suffering in silence, away from the spotlight--very few people knew her, and even fewer were those admitted to her room.

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Birth and Early Life Antonietta De Vitis was born on August 23, 1936 in Nociglia, (Lecce) Italy. She spent her

childhood showing mercy and generosity towards her neighbor; she often deprived her-self of what little food she had to give it to the hungry, and whenever possible she sought

to assist the sick and needy. Being of limited means themselves, on one occasion when her mother discovered that Antonietta was sacrificing her own food to give to the poor,

her mother scolded her harshly.

Antionetta offers herself to Jesus at age 14 for the Church and all of humanity On the feast of St Joseph, March 19, 1950 at age fourteen Antionetta was inspired to of-

fer herself to the Lord as a victim soul for humanity in union with Jesus. Concerning this complete offering of herself she writes in her diary:

"The Lord put the seal on His creature and at fourteen I was His: a virgin bride, fresh of life, with a generous heart, ready to offer Him everything: even a life of suffering that

burns"

She survived without food and water & lived solely off the Eucharist for 53

years -Holy Communion was not swallowed, but absorbed by the tongue

Beginning in the year 1952 her only daily food was the Eucharist; however, as observed by her attending physician who attested the permanent and constant abstinence from

food and liquids, the Holy Eucharist was not ingested, but was absorbed by the lingual mucosa, and would disappear completely after a very short period of time. (-Dr. Arturo

Benegiamo of Sogliano Cavour, province of Lecce).

The stigmata In 1969 she was given the mystical grace of the invisible stigmata, which become visible

three years later in 1972. The visible stigmata was documented with medical certificates, in particular that of Dr. Benegiamo di Sogliano Cavour, her attending physician.

At this point in her life due to several illness she became completely bedridden, and her life consisted of continual prayer--she was very devoted in reciting the Holy Rosary, of-

fering to the Lord herself and her sufferings. Throughout her life she will have numerous illnesses including tuberculosis, internal bleeding, emphysema and temporary blindness,

among others.

Visions of St Padre Pio, St Francis, St Anthony, Maria Valtorta and others Those who attended her stated that her sufferings were offered to God with a smile on

her lips and an offering to Heaven. She wrote in her diary: "I sacrifice myself for the Church and for the people of God."

This spirit of offering and generosity was rewarded with many mystical visions including

the Virgin Mary, St Padre Pio, St Francis, St Anthony, St Clelia Barbieri and her "..little sister Maria Valtorta, who was unknown to me until she herself gave me her name."

Throughout her holy life she asked to take upon herself the pain, the derision and the

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mistreatment suffered by Our Lord in union with Him, to relieve the weight that Christ

has taken upon himself for us. Freely she offered herself a victim soul, particularly for the Church.

A bandage covering the stigmata on her right hand can been seen in the photo

Two recent miraculous cures through her intercession

There are numerous testimonies of cures attributed to her intercession. The Quotidiano Di Puglia newspaper reports two of the most recent, which have been attached to the file

present in the diocese. "Miracle of the Saint who has not eaten for 53 years: heals and saves the lives of two children" -July 12, 2018

and also reported here:

"Miracles of the 'Saint of Nociglia': two little boys saved" Viaggi News ,July 11, 2018

The first reported miracle concerns a child suffering from a very serious congenital pa-thology, treatable only with a heart transplant: the mother, an unbeliever, tells an ac-

quaintance of hers the fate of her son. Moved by the seriousness of the case, the woman

offers to go to the cemetery to pray on the grave of Antonietta De Vitis, "the mystic born in Nociglia and died in 2004 after a life of suffering, prayer and total withdrawal from the

world". "I don't believe - warns that mother to the acquaintance, yet leaving a door open to

hope- "but if you go to Antonietta, pray also for me and my baby".

After a few days the boys mother wakes up with a start, because she dreamed of Anto-nietta De Vitis who said to her: "Stop crying, I'm thinking of the boy. Also in a few days

something unpleasant will happen, but don't worry. "

A few days went by and the boy was taken for chest scans to the "Perrino" hospital in Brindisi where he was being treated, and the cardiologists were amazed: there was no

trace of the heart malformation. The boys heart was now completely normal. The "unpleasant something" she was foretold of in her dream concerned the father of the

child who had an accident and suffered an injury, which thankfully ended up being noth-

ing serious. Yet one is left wondering--could Antonietta have interceded in that situation too? Perhaps we shall never know.

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Nevertheless, the boy's mother gratefully thanked Antonietta with a phrase written in the cemetery ledger pertaining to Antonietta: “Together with my son I dreamed of you, and

what you said then has come true. Thank you!"

The second recent case concerns that of another boy, the son of a doctor who was ill with cancer. The parents prayed to Antoinette, the "saint of Nociglia" as some locals have be-

gun referring to her as, and it was soon discovered that the boy was completely healed, to the utter surprise of the attending doctors. Deeply grateful, the boy's father felt he

must thank Antonietta, and so he has informed the bishop of Otranto, to whom he has entrusted the story. As stated above, both of these recent cures were reported in several

Italian newspapers in 2018.

Some quotes from her diary and letters -Her union with Jesus

"... I am in my Jesus, I rest in him, I suffer in him, I agonize in him, sure that what is in

me belongs to my Jesus, all His and nothing mine. Like the Mother of Heaven I said "fiat" to the Father, and He, the Most High, accomplishes great things in me even though I am

from the earth, because it was She who clothed me with Heaven."

"...He is my everything, my food, drink, rest, effort, pain, life, love, joy and sweet-ness....".

(From a letter of Antonietta De Vitis to Father Adalberto Cerusico)

In her diary she writes: "In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit I declare the following:

Jesus was and is my only love who married my soul, to whom I have given everything

through the Heavenly Mother, St. Francis, Padre Pio, the blessed Clelia Barbieri who came from heaven, at first unknown to me with my Angels Azariah and Elgidio, to teach

me to Love in the footsteps of a little sister always presented to me by the Lord, but un-

known until she herself gave me her name: Maria Valtorta. I accepted everything and I gave myself to God in the Holy Trinity, asking to be like Jesus, immolated for souls, un-

known, hidden, but full of heaven.

I go up to Calvary to reach the top, consuming myself for the Church, for the Pope, for the bishops, for the priests, for consecrated souls, and for the people of God. My offering

now rises to the Holy Trinity, at the behest of my Jesus, because of the enormous weight, impossible to walk, bleeding, tortured, powerless as I am, I go to my agony,

supported by their help.

I have given everything from the earth, and I will give everything from heaven with my Love, Jesus, and they will be the roses of Heaven in a rain of graces, of heavenly gifts;

then everything will be known and the wonders of the Lord will amaze the earth. Clasped to my Crucified Love, with Him crucified, I leave the earth for Heaven, but I am with you,

always with you as in the will of my Jesus.

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I have loved everyone, especially those who made me suffer, and I gave my heart to

everyone; with particular predilection I have loved, and will love from Heaven, those who have suffered with me, with my loved ones who have loved me, and who have given me

a helping hand. Understood by my poverty and misery I ask everyone for forgiveness and prayer for my poor soul, so that my Love will accept it, purified, and worthy of the

eternal pastures. My prayer, incessant from the earth, will come down from Heaven ben-eficial for those who directed me spiritually, for those who loved me with a motherly

heart, helped me, comforted me, assisted me in long and painful years of suffering.

To God the Holy Trinity I give my soul, my heart, my blood, my everything, because I did everything in my God, the only purpose of my life. AMEN " .

In this declaration we see how Antonietta had given herself totally and completely to the

Lord.

The two Franciscan friars and parish priest who assisted and supported her

Given the extraordinary circumstances that surrounded her, very few people were per-mitted to visit her. Two Capuchin friars and her parish priest unfailingly accompany her

during her life journey: Father Colombano Luciani da Fano (until the 1970s) and Father Candido Sallustio da Molfetta, along with Parish priest Father Adalberto Cerusico. On April

9, 1970 with deep joy Antonietta becomes a Franciscan tertiary (3rd Order Franciscan).

The vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary concerning Aldo Moro Aldo Moro was an Italian statesman and a prominent member of the Christian Democracy

party. He served as 38th Prime Minister of Italy, from 1963 to 1968, and then from 1974 to 1976, and was a devoted Catholic. He was assassinated on May 9, 1978. In a vision,

Antonietta De Vitis was given some interesting details concerning his kidnapping and murder, which have added strength to her purported visions, as latest findings of the RIS

(Italian intelligence agency) in this regard would seem to support.

At 2.35 on Wednesday, May 17, 1978, the following is related in Antonietta De Vitis' dia-

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ry, which today is in the possession of the local Diocese:

“The heavenly Mother comes and urges me to pray for so much wickedness that is found among her children, and brings me in a deep underground channel, like a well where you

go down, and I see heavy chains like the ones you put on the machines when there is a lot of snow on the ground, and I see machine guns and many bullets ... and She tells me

that Aldo Moro had been hidden there, the statesman, who has been a martyr and had suffered a lot---hunger, fear and unspeakable torments, tied with those chains; She tells

me that he had been wounded with a bullet on the evening of May 8, at 5.35 pm, when at that time She had come to me crying strongly, urging me to pray, because something

terrible was happening!"

Aldo Moro, according to Antonietta's diary, had been hit in the lung at that time, “causing him to agonize and suffer excruciatingly, until the following morning (May 9th), at around

7.30, when they had finished him with numerous strokes. I see a lot of blood on many roads, and the Heavenly Mother, crying, still says to me: “My daughter, see how much

blood of My children, how many victims!"

Please write down what I saw and heard, in my diary, at 3.43 hours." (speaking to a friend who writes in her diary for her)

Her holy death

Antonietta De Vitis passed from this life on June 19, 2004. She was 67 years old. There was a edifying message that was found on her deathbed:

"Clasped to my Crucified One, crucified with Him, I leave the earth for heaven"

Her cause for Beatification/Canonization The diocese of Otranto is examining the virtues of Antonietta De Vitis. In

2013 Antonietta's diaries and writings were delivered to Monsignor Donato Negro, Bishop of Otranto, who is currently examining at the diocesan level, the extraordinary virtues

and facts concerning her.

Antonietta De Vitis gave her life to God, hidden from the world, praying incessantly and

offering her sufferings in particular for the Church and for religious. Many in Italy and throughout the world are hoping that the Church will officially recognizes Antonietta's

heroic exercise of Christian virtues

For more information, visit the "Antonietta De Vitis Onlus Association"

"I sacrifice myself for the Church and for the people of God." -Antonietta De Vitis